The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

1 He therefore beginneth with thanksgiving, 4 to put them in mind that whatsoever was praiseworthy in them, it came of God’s goodness: 7 and that they are ensamples unto others.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[a]We give God thanks always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.

[b]Without ceasing, remembering your effectual faith, and diligent love, and the patience of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, even our Father,

Knowing, beloved brethren, that ye are [c]elect of God.

[d]For our Gospel was not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in [e]much assurance, as ye know after what manner we were among you for your sakes.

[f]And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, and received the word in much affliction, with [g]joy of the holy Ghost,

So that ye were as ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but your faith also which is toward God, spread abroad in all quarters, that we need not to speak anything.

For [h]they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, [i]and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.

10 And to look for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivereth us from [j]that wrath to come.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 An example of a right Christian rejoicing:whereby also we learn, that such as have great gifts in them are in two sorts bridled, to wit, if they consider that they have received all from God, and that continuance must be desired at his hands, whereunto also the whole Epistle exhorteth the Thessalonians.
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 He commendeth them for three special gifts, effectual faith, continual love, and patient hope: to the end they might be ashamed being endued with such excellent gifts, not to continue in God’s election.
  3. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Word for word, that your election is of God.
  4. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 Another reason why they ought in no wise start back but continue to the end, because they cannot doubt of his doctrine which hath been so many ways confirmed unto them, even from heaven as they themselves did well know.
  5. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 Paul showeth by two things, that there followed very great fruits of his preaching, to wit, by these gifts of the holy Ghost, and that certain assurance which was thoroughly settled in their minds, as appeared by their willing bearing of the cross.
  6. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 Another reason: Because even to that day, they embraced the Gospel with great cheerfulness, insomuch that they were an example to all their neighbors: so that it should be more shame for them to faint in the mid-race.
  7. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 With joy which cometh from the holy Ghost.
  8. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 All the believers.
  9. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 It is no true conversion to forsake idols, unless a man therewithall worship the true and living God in Christ the only redeemer.
  10. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 This word (That) is not put here without cause: and by (wrath) is meant that revenge and punishment, wherewith the Lord will judge the world at length in his terrible wrath.

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